In 1987, photographer and cook Wilco van Herpen (b. 1963) developed a fascination for Turkey and its people. In 1999, he settled here permanently. After a brief career as a reporter for Turkish television he made a series of successful TV programmes. Speaking Turkish with an endearing Dutch accent, his sincere interest and open-minded attitude turned him into a national celebrity. Van Herpen is married to opera singer Gonca Gürses. He feels completely at home living in Istanbul and calls himself a ‘blonde Turk’.